Program Director - Transportation Administration & Innovation, CPR

Introduction

The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine value diversity in our members, volunteers, and staff and strive for a culture of inclusion in our workplace and activities. Convening a diverse community to exchange ideas and perspectives enhances the quality of our work and increases our relevance as advisers to the nation about the most complex issues facing the nation and the world.

Requisition Number: R0002699

NOTE A COVER LETTER IS REQUIRED FOR CONSIDERATION

The Senior Team Leader provides senior-level leadership and management for a team of professional staff responsible for delivering a complex and diverse portfolio of cooperative transportation research projects. The position combines advanced people leadership, portfolio-level accountability, and hands‑on management of high‑visibility research projects.

Reporting to the Deputy Director, the Senior Team Leader exercises substantial independent judgment in managing staff, overseeing project portfolios, resolving complex issues, and engaging with volunteers and sponsors. The role is accountable for ensuring research quality, operational effectiveness, and timely delivery across multiple topic areas, while aligning team activities with division priorities.

The Transportation Research Board (TRB), a division of the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine, provides leadership in transportation innovation through objective, evidence-based research and convenes experts from government, industry, and academia to address complex transportation challenges. Within TRB, the CRP are applied research programs—including NCHRP, ACRP, TCRP, and BTSCRP, and others—that develop practical, implementable solutions to current and emerging transportation issues through stakeholder-driven research and collaboration.

Research Portfolio Leadership & Accountability

• Provide leadership and oversight for a diverse portfolio of applied transportation research projects spanning multiple subject areas.
• Manage selected complex or high-profile research projects personally, including contractor oversight and delivery of final products.
• Ensure research activities meet TRB and National Academies standards for rigor, relevance, objectivity, and usefulness.
• Identify cross-project risks, dependencies, and opportunities; implement corrective actions as needed.
• Advise the Deputy Director on portfolio performance, emerging issues, and resource needs.

Team Leadership & People Management

• Provide direct supervision to approximately 5–6 professional staff, including senior-level project managers.
• Assign work, set priorities, and balance workloads across the team’s portfolio.
• Establish clear performance expectations and hold staff accountable for results.
• Conduct performance evaluations and support professional development and succession readiness.
• Foster a collaborative, high-performing team culture.

Program Execution & Strategic Alignment

• Translate division and program priorities into integrated work plans for the team.
• Exercise independent judgment in resolving operational, project, and personnel issues.
• Escalate only strategic, fiscal, or reputational risks to the Deputy Director.
• Contribute to program planning, process improvement, and operational decision-making.

Governance & Volunteer Leadership

• Provide senior-level support to volunteer committees and research panels, including facilitation of discussions and resolution of issues.
• Navigate consensus-driven environments involving diverse technical and institutional perspectives.
• Ensure compliance with TRB and National Academies governance, ethics, and conflict-of-interest requirements.

Sponsor & Stakeholder Engagement

• Serve as a primary point of contact for sponsors and stakeholders on assigned portfolios.
• Lead project-level and portfolio-level briefings, reviews, and follow-up discussions.
• Address sponsor concerns and contractor issues independently within delegated authority.
• Coordinate with the Deputy Director on sensitive or high-impact matters.

Communication & Collaboration

• Prepare executive-ready written materials, including project summaries, briefing notes, and decision memos.
• Commun…